Tag: loss

Posted on

#BookReview: 30Seven by Jeremy Robinson

Rare (Possibly Unique?) Genre Bender/ Blender From The New God Of Science Fiction.

Every damn time I say “this is Jeremy Robinson at his absolute best”, he comes out with another book even better – usually with the very next book. 😀

Here, we get the kick ass scifi action Robinson gained his following for – he’s never going to go far from that, in my experience having read every book he’s written. But we *also* get an emotional depth that is sometimes less prevalent in his tales, and here we get it to the levels of his most emotional books to date such as The Distance or Alter. Indeed, it even harkens back all the way to The Last Hunter in some ways, with being even more blatant about just how much a father loves his son.

But then… the genre bending. Some of it, I’m not going to even hint at here, as it would be a massive spoiler. But I *can* say, given that Robinson has used this particular blend at other times (notably in the “Infinite Timeline”‘s The Dark), that the horror here is some of the darkest, sickest, most vile horror I’ve seen on page in quite some time – the kind of horror that makes you question even friends you’ve known online for approaching two decades and have even shared a few meals with in real life over the years. The other bit of genre bending though… you’re going to have to read this book. It was done at least as well as anything else here, but you’ll get no hints from me as to what it is. I will say that as good as the scifi/ horror itself is, this particular addition makes the story here *that much stronger*, and even though Robinson has never gone this direction before, he actually manages to pull it off at least as well as others who write in this space for their careers. Maybe even better.

As with so many of his books of late, there is also a fair amount of meta-commentary here, including one bit where even I had to tell him “You’re starting to convince me that you actually enjoy the frequent political complaints from both sides thinking they know you. “. So before you even get to that line in particular (and no I’m not revealing it), just know that *I* have known this man for nearly 20 yrs. We met in *Myspace*. I’ve read every book he has written, and I’ve even hung out with him at the annual (since 2015 or so) Robinsonfest event a few times, including both 2023 and 2024 when it was in St. Augustine, FL, near my home in Jacksonville. And even *I* can’t tell you his actual positions on any political or religious point. So if you think you know him better than I do… a few people do. His family. His long time editor. Several close friends, including several fans. Outside of those specific people… no, you most likely do not. Still, I invite you to read this book and write your own review of it, and if you feel you must call him out for some perceived political or religious sin… so be it. Just know that I for one am going to laugh my ass off when I see you do it. 🙂

Overall, this really was Robinson at his absolute best to date, pushing himself in directions I honestly never saw coming from him. Thus, almost no matter what your particular reading preference is… you need to put this one on your TBR. You’re going to want to experience this tale from a true Master of his craft.

Very much recommended.

This review of 30Seven by Jeremy Robinson was originally written on July 6, 2025.

Posted on

#BookReview: All Roads Lead To Rome by Yamile Saied Mendez

Solid Dramatic Romance Marred By Mismatched Cover/ Description. I’d had an ARC of this book for a few months before publication, despite only finishing it on publication day due to both life and a rather insane pace of reading – it was my 81st completed book of the year and 11th of the month. At least through this point, even the next day, the cover of the book and the description of the book both hint at a lot more visual and visceral travel based romance than what is delivered here, to the level that I felt the star deduction was warranted for this mismatch – a mismatch that can be corrected at any time, perhaps as soon as even within the very time I’m writing this review. Thus, if the cover and description have been updated by the time you read this review and reflect more of what I’m about to tell you, heh, my reason for deducting a star is no longer there and I would consider it a five star read instead.

Now, as to what this book actually is… prepare for some very dusty rooms. While there is a lot more telling than showing here, due to the nature of how Mendez chooses to tell the story, and perhaps the events of the book – both good and bad – could have landed even harder with a more first person / showing narrative, the story still works quite well as is and I have no actual problem with it. Yes, some people won’t prefer it, but others wouldn’t prefer it if it *were* done in the first person/ showing kind of manner, so meh, your mileage will absolutely vary there.

Still, the story as presented is powerful, if one of those romance tales that spans several years. This is far from an insta-romance, yet I’m also not sure that I would classify it as slow burn. Instead, this is a tale of life molding two people – mostly one of them – to the point where they *finally* realize they are what each other always wanted… even if they had to go through so much pain and hardship (along with fun and adventure) to get there. Thus, it actually works as a more serious balance to so much of the more “bubblegum pop” types of romances that are out there and thus a solid tale to stay within the romance space yet get a different taste and texture from a story than may be your typical. (Or perhaps this is your typical and you *need* some bubblegum pop. While that isn’t this review, find my other reviews wherever you see this one and you can likely find some recs for some of those too. :D)

This is one of those books where you need to be ready to read about life continually knocking our main character down… and sometimes she stays down perhaps longer than is healthy or wise. And that isn’t the kind of book everyone can read at every stage of their lives, so you need to be prepared for that. It gets *deep* into the stages of grief and loss of different elements of our main character’s life, and if that is too much for you… go grab some of that bubblegum. Heal up. Come to this one when you can handle this kind of tale. Because it *is* a good tale that deserves to be known,

Overall truly a strong tale that I perhaps have a quibble or two with the manner in which it is told and a more serious problem with how it is currently marketed at release time, neither of which actually seriously detracts from the power of the story itself.

Very much recommended.

This review of All Roads Lead To Rome by Yamile Saied Mendez was originally written on June 25, 2025.

Posted on

#BookReview: Hearts Unleashed by Tammy L. Grace

Powerful (And Short) Story. This is the book where the power of the Dragonfly Cove concept really begins to shine through. Here, we get a short story that packs a lot of story into its few pages, specifically as it relates to moving on after loss and grief. But it is the way that Grace integrates so many other characters from the other books in the series that really shows the full power of this series in showing a vibrant community, rather than just one person’s actions within a world and how they affect herself. In also introducing characters with ties to her own series (such as Lavender Bay in particular), Grace also gives the reader of this short story, who may not be familiar with her other works, reasons to want to go back and look into those other books.

Finally, as this *is* a series centered on puppies and the love of dogs, the way Grace was able to execute chapters from the dog’s perspective was both fun and refreshing – it is one thing to be *told* how hyper dogs can be, and another thing to be *shown* from “their own mind” how it is. 🙂

Ultimately a strong story yet also a quick read, this is yet again a great introduction to Grace and her style.

Very much recommended.

This review of Hearts Unleashed by Tammy L. Grace was originally written on January 1, 2025.

Posted on

#BookReview: Every Moment Since by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

Dark. Dreary. Dismal. Oppressive. And Then The Candle Flickers To Life. This is one of those books that takes the hyper-dark and hyper-oppressive feel of the singular worst book I’ve *EVER* read – The Road by Cormac McCarthy – and does what McCarthy never could: Provide just that flicker of a spark of a candle lighting. *Just* enough to provide *some* level of hope. Even when most everyone in this book is so broken by the central issue – a child going missing decades ago – and their secrets about that night that none of them *really* *want* that hope, the reader *needs* that smallest flicker… and Whalen provides it in particularly dramatic form.

For those who are not fans of multi-perspective books… this one isn’t going to change that, sorry. There are a lot of perspectives going on here, and a lot of sudden switching that can get a touch confusing at times, particularly as we switch between “then” and “now”.

But really, that was the only *potential* flaw here, and not everyone has that particular hangup. (I don’t, I actually thought the multi-perspectives made the story work much *better* in this particular case, as we get so many views on what happened here and how different people are reacting differently.)

The tie in to Richard Jewel of the Centennial Park Bombing during the 1996 Olympic Park Bombings in Atlanta was interesting, even if Whalen actually meant that particular character to be a more general representation. (And to be clear, it is only my own mind that made the connection at all, though perhaps others who were living in the Atlanta region during that time also might make it. The actual characterization is far more generic and could represent any number of people in similar situations.)

Overall a strong, if extremely dark and depressing, tale extremely well told. Very much recommended.

This review of Every Moment Since by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen was originally written on October 14, 2024.

Posted on

#BookReview: Where Butterflies Wander by Suzanne Redfearn

My Scars Remind Me That The Past Is Real. Wait. Sexton. You’re quoting *Papa Roach* to title your review of an emotional women’s fiction tale? I mean, you’ve done some crazy shit in your reviews over the years, but come on, dude. Really??

Yes, really, because ultimately this is a tale of scars and the beauty and pain of healing from them – and of allowing them to get you stuck in the first place. Pretty well everyone in this tale has lost loved ones. For many of the perspectives we live in through this tale – a family who recently lost one of their youngest members – the scars are on the inside, and are eating them alive in various forms. For another of the perspectives we live inside in this tale, the scars are much more open and visible, though even these hide just as many internal scars.

And yet, with her usual skill, Redfearn once again turns in an excellent story of healing and hope, even in some of the darkest times unfortunately far too many face. Hopefully, you, the reader of my review, won’t actually have these *exact* scars and thus the exact particulars here won’t resonate *as* much with you. Read this book anyway, as it could well provide at least a touch of catharsis and magic for even your own scars, no matter what they may be.

And if you *are* one of those who happens to have some remarkably identical scars to our characters here… you have my sympathies and condolences. Read this book anyway as well, and perhaps find at least a modicum of healing and hope in these fictional words. Hell, maybe even learn a lesson from our family here and use this tale as a catalyst to talk to others about your pain and perhaps heal even more from that.

No rooms ever got particularly dusty while I was reading this tale, but I’m also not one who has suffered these particular kinds of scars. Still, the overall quality of the tale and the writing of it is Redfearn’s usual excellence, and ultimately the story is truly quite good on so many levels. Very much recommended.

This review of Where Butterflies Wander by Suzanne Redfearn was originally written on February 10, 2024.

Posted on

#BookReview: Emerald Heart by Grace Greene

Sometimes Life Just Breaks You. If you find yourself in this place, this is the kind of book you *need* to read. It will hurt. You will cry. But maybe, just maybe, you’ll find a modicum of catharsis here too.

If you haven’t found yourself in this place – yet – read this too. Maybe get a better understanding of the “bitter old woman recluse” in your life. Because let’s face it – we *all* either have one of these or had one of these or very likely will have one of these in our lives at some point. And to be clear, it isn’t just women, as men could very easily be shown to be dealing with identical things as are shown in this book. But this particular tale happens to be a women’s fiction tale focused on a woman and her relationships, and thus the description above.

Told with Greene’s usual great care to characterization and description, you’re both going to feel like you’re there on Emerald Isle with these characters *and* you’re going to feel their issues as though there were your own. Because, again, Greene shows us that no matter where we are in life, at some point nearly all of us will see ourselves in at least one of these characters and what they are going through in theirs.

And there, there is where Greene truly shows Grace ( 😉 ) and hope.

Very much recommended.

This review of Emerald Heart by Grace Greene was originally written on December 4, 2023.

Posted on

Featured New Release Of The Week: When We Let Go by Rochelle B Weinstein

This week we’re looking at a staggering tale of loss and recovery. This week we’re looking at When We Let Go by Rochelle B Weinstein.

Emotional Tale Of Loss And Recovery. This is one of those tales where you know up front that it is dark… and then it gets darker. And darker. And darker. With just enough humor to lighten things up a bit… and then a gut-punch of a form that may be used a bit often (as another reviewer claimed), but which works within the tale being told here. Similarly, as this is ultimately a tale of *recovery* from such devastation, one element of the epilogue that I’ve panned as unnecessary and even detracting from other books in other reviews actually works in this particular tale. And it works *specifically because* of the tale told up to that point. Truly an excellent work, and very much recommended.

Posted on

Featured New Release Of The Week: Memories In The Drift by Melissa Payne

This week we’re looking at a book that I’ve been talking about for weeks, one that made me cry unlike any this year. This week, we’re looking at Memories In The Drift by Melissa Payne.

Here, the Goodreads review below really does sum up my thoughts on the book quite well. It is a very well told, very visceral look at memory loss and pain, and it is so gut-wrenching it will leave you breathless. Truly one of the best books I’ve read this year for that very reason.

Prepare To Cry. Holy hell y’all. This book is one of the more tragic and yet also visceral books about memory loss I’ve encountered to date, bringing you into the mind of the person more than any other I’ve yet encountered. And it is also the one that made me *BAWL* unlike any since Barbara O’Neal’s 2019 WHEN WE BELIEVED IN MERMAIDS. Which was over 300 books ago for me. If you’re looking for a great story and a good cry, you’ve found one here. And just to be crystal clear, it isn’t like the things that make you cry are hidden – in both cases I picked up on them about a quarter ish of the book before Payne actually explicitly revealed them. And yet the execution on the actual reveal was so gut punching both times… wow. Very much recommended.

Posted on

Featured New Release of the Week: Letters to a Stranger by Mercedes Pinto Maldonado, Translated by Jennie Erikson

This week we’re looking at what is quite possibly the first modern book I’ve ever read that was originally written in another language. This week we’re looking at Letters To A Stranger by Mercedes Pinto Maldonado, translated by Jennie Erikson.

This was an interesting read. The mystery is solid and compelling, and the writing is excellent (at least in the English, and presumably in the Spanish – though I barely read or write Spanish and thus read the English version). But the book itself is all about loss, and that depressive state pervades this book almost from the first words to the last. (Though to be fair, the last words are a bit cliche, a slight mar to the finish of an otherwise outstanding work.) So as I note below, you’re almost going to be begging for a zany and hilarious romantic comedy as a palate cleanser after this one.

But there *is* a love story embedded within the loss, as well as a pair of redemptive arcs that play out on different time scales. These provide just enough levity to allow the gravitas of the loss to settle without being overbearing, and these show just how adept at her craft Maldonado is. This seems to be the first of Maldonado’s works to be translated into English, but this reader for one is hoping that more follow – I’m not quite so desperate to read more of her work that I would learn Spanish just to be able to do so, but I would indeed like to see more. Very much recommended.

As always, the Goodreads/ Amazon review:
Continue reading “Featured New Release of the Week: Letters to a Stranger by Mercedes Pinto Maldonado, Translated by Jennie Erikson”

Posted on

Featured New Release Of the Week: Only One Life by Ashley Farley

This week we are looking at a generational tale of love, loss, secrets, and a mother’s enduring love for her children. This week, we are looking at Only One Life by Ashley Farley.

Structurally, this book was intriguing. The “normal” structure for these types of books that delve into stories in both past and present is to alternate chapters or sometimes even scenes within a chapter. This book takes a seemingly novel approach to the novel and instead opens in the present, goes back to the past to tell that entire story up to the present day, and then comes back to the present to finish out the overall story. For the story of this particular tale, this structure worked very well indeed – and even within this structure, managed to save some surprises for late in the book.

The tale itself was heartbreaking and yet also full of hope. The struggles that the primary mother and daughter go through are immense, but the ending gets to a happily ever after that manages to leave at least one key plot point resolved yet ready for a sequel, should Ms. Farley choose to pursue it. Overall an excellent tale, my first from this Lake Union author, and yet again not my last. Very much recommended.

And as always, the Goodreads/ Amazon:
Continue reading “Featured New Release Of the Week: Only One Life by Ashley Farley”